Elijah Henderson, 17, was shot and killed on May 1, 2013Contributed photo

MUSKEGON, MI — It’s been a year since 17-year-old Elijah Jaquan Henderson was gunned down in the middle of a Muskegon street, left there to die in a pool of his own blood.

Police who arrived first to the scene desperately tried to save his life, but the young man died at the hospital shortly after the drive-by shooting.

No one has come forward with information since, and the investigation into his death hasn’t been able to move forward as a result, said Muskegon Public Safety Director Jeffrey Lewis.

Investigators have spent countless hours on the case, but the lack of “cooperation from the public” hasn’t helped, Lewis said.

“It’s obviously still under investigation,” Lewis said. “It’s an open murder investigation. As we’ve investigated other crimes that have occurred we do get information on other cases, but we haven’t on Elijah. That’s always the hope, though.”

Henderson was fatally shot shortly after midnight on May 1, 2013 while walking alone in the 1300 block of Fifth Street in Muskegon. He was talking on his cellphone at the time, his mother has said. Marta Baez, his mother, could not be reached for comment for this story.

His shooter or shooters remained at large as of Friday, May 2 – one year and one day after his death.

Even a $2,500 reward for information about the young man’s death hasn’t prompted useful tips, Lewis said.

Authorities are hopeful the case will be solved.

Lewis said it’s just a matter of time.

“We don’t forget. We talk about it as much as possible. He was a young man who lost his life way too early in the city and we’re not going to forget,” he said. “There are a lot of different theories out there, but at some point something will happen and we will be able to put two and two together.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Muskegon Police Department at (231) 724-6750 or Silent Observer at 72-CRIME or 911. Tips can also be relayed to police anonymously by texting or calling this number: 231-846-8477 (231-846-TIPS).

Heather Lynn Peters covers police and fire, and writes a statewide food column, The Spunky Kitchen, for MLive/Muskegon Chronicle. Email her at hpeters@mlive.com and follow her on Twitter @HLPNEWS.